Selected Handgun Details

Please Note - We do not sell handguns. We simply provide this information as a resource for people who
may be in the market to buy or sell a handgun, or who are simply researching a particular handgun model.
Click HERE to see information about the listed pricing.
Click HERE to see information about how the Ranking Factors are calculated.

About the Handgun:
The Croatian made XD pistol represents Springfield Armory's entry into the polymer-frame striker-fired pistol market. Although Springfield Armory introduced the XD in 2002, an earlier incarnation of the design known as the HS2000 had been independently imported into the US three years before. The XD model introduced many manufacturing improvements that have given the pistol a reputation for reliability and accuracy. While often compared to the GLock, the XD has a distinctly different trigger action that includes a unique 1911-style grip safety, and both a cocked status indicator and a loaded chamber indicator.

About the Manufacturer:
George Washington ordered the creation of the Springfield Armory in 1777 to store revolutionary ammunition and gun carriages. In 1794 the armory began to manufacture muskets for the US. For the next 150 years Springfield Armory functioned as the supplier for every major American conflict, as well as a 'think tank' for new firearms concepts. Due to budgetary concerns the US Government closed the armory in 1968. After the closure, the Springfield Armory name was used by a small company in Texas for several years. Those efforts were unsuccessful and in 1974, the rights to the Springfield Armory name were acquired by Robert Reese, who formed a new company to manufacture semi-automatic versions of the M14 rifle called the M1A Rifle. This firearm was what brought success to the business. The company then expanded its market into pistols, notably the M1911. After further success the company began to branch into many fields of firearms. Springfield Armory now manufactures dozens of different firearms of many styles and models.

About the Cartridge:
A joint development program by Glock and Speer resulted in the .45 Glock Automatic Pistol. This new cartridge was designed by GLOCK to be used in the medium frame sized GLOCK 37 semi-auto pistol. It is based on the .45 ACP pistol cartridge, but is shorter, having the same overall length as a 9 mm Luger or .40 S&W. The .45 GAP operates at a higher pressure than the .45 ACP to make up for the smaller chamber volume. It was first believed that the traditional .45 ACP loading of a 230-grain bullet at 830 ft/sec would not be possible in the .45 GAP, but careful gunpowder selection on the part of ammunition manufacturers has realized that standard.

Theses graphs and
ranks are by no means authoritative. For that matter they should be considered
"For Entertainment Purposes Only". They are the author's attempt to provide
relative power/defense information on all of the handguns in the database.
Some measurements are absolute, based on standards and using known calculations.
Others are entirely subjective, developed by the author. All are "Subject to
the Viewer's Interpretation".

All information presented in this section is for the most part relative, meaning that the same
calculations are applied to all guns in the database, and the results are ranked against the range
from best to worse of all guns measured.

Below are the methods used for calculating the graphs and ranks shown in this section.

Absolute Measurements:

Power Factor
This calculation is based on the IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association)
power rating of a particular caliber/cartridge, which is determined by simply
multiplying the bullet's muzzle velocity in (feet per second) by its weight
(in grains).

Power Factor = Muzzle Velocity • Bullet Weight

Data used for all calculations are the average muzzle velocity for a given cartridge
as measured by SAAMI(Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute),
and the mean bullet weight from the range of bullets available for that particular cartridge.

SAAMI uses a specific barrel length for measuring each cartridge, so an adjustment is made of 2.5%
of the test muzzle velocity for every inch difference between the gun's barrel length and the
SAAMI test barrel length.

The graph represents the specific gun's power factor compared against the range of power
factors for all guns in the database.

Recoil Factor
This calculation is based on a public domain free recoil equation that takes into account
the bullet weight and muzzle velocity plus the cartridge powder charge weight and expelling
gas muzzle velocity applied against the gun's weight. The result is measured in foot-pounds of energy.

Where:
Etgu is the recoil energy expressed in foot-pounds (ft·lb).
mgu is the weight of the gun expressed in pounds (lb).
mp is the weight of the bullet expressed in grains (gr).
mc is the weight of the powder charge expressed in grains (gr).
vgu is the total forward velocity of the gun expressed in feet per second (ft/s).
vp is the velocity of the bullet expressed in feet per second (ft/s).
vc is the velocity of the powder charge expressed in feet per second (ft/s).
gc is the dimensional constant and is the numeral coefficient of 32.1739.
7000 is the conversion factor to set the equation equal to pounds.

The graph represents the specific gun's recoil factor compared against the range of recoil
factors for all guns in the database.

Total Capacity
This value is the maximum number of rounds that a particular gun can carry.
For revolvers, derringers and single-shot guns the database value is used.
For semi-automatic pistols with removable magazines, 1 is added to the database
value. (i.e. magazine plus one in the chamber)

The graph represents the specific gun's capacity compared against the range of capacities for all guns in the database.

Subjective Measurements:

Concealability
This calculation is entirely subjective and is intended to provide a relative
measure of concealability for each of the guns in the database. It is a simple
calculation of the overall length of the gun (in inches) plus the weight of
the gun (in pounds).

Concealability = Length + Weight

Ranking is based on a range bounded on the high end by the gun with the lowest calculated concealability factor
and on the low end at an arbitrary setting of 16. (For example, this could be a gun that is 12 inches in length
and weighs 4 pounds.) There are guns in the database whose concealability factor exceeds 16.

The graph represents the percentile that a particular gun ranks compared to the rest of the guns in the database,
while the textual rank is represented by a 5-point scale; Very Poor, Poor, Fair, Good and Excellent.

Defense Ranking
This calculation is entirely subjective and is intended to give a relative measure of a gun's ability
to provide concealed personal defense. This ranking is based on a weighted combination of the four previous calculations:

This value is compared against all of the guns in the database and is
then represented as a percentile ranking.(100% = the gun with the highest
combined value, 1% = the gun with the lowest combined value)

Again, please remember, "For Entertainment Purposes Only" and "Subject to the
Viewer's Interpretation". Please feel free to contact the author with any comments or suggestions.

About the Pricing

Pricing shown is for reference only. We do not sell guns.

"MSRP" pricing indicates the Manufacturer's
Suggested Retail Price for a new gun."Used Est." pricing indicates the average private market value
of a used gun in "Excelent" to "Very
Good" condition.

These two prices basically represent the most to the least you might pay for
a new model, or like-new used model. Typically the price you will pay for a gun will fall
somewhere in between, your better value being closer to the Used Est. price than the
MSRP price.

REF: "Blue Book of Gun Values" - "Standard Catalog of Firearms"
NRA "Modern Firearm Condition Descriptions"Excellent: New condition, used but little, no noticeable marring of wood
or metal, bluing perfect, (except at muzzle or sharp edges). Very Good: In perfect working condition, no appreciable wear on working
surfaces, no corrosion or pitting, only minor surface dents or scratches.